Position Summary: The Director of Content Strategy is responsible for leading day-to-day communications and marketing efforts across all of Stanford’s owned digital and third-party digital channels such as social networks. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of success in cross-functional planning, integration, and execution of communications (internal and external), with experience leading segmented digital marketing campaigns that drive a variety of outcomes including conversions. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a marketer’s creative hustle and a fiery motivation to jump on opportunities as they arise to achieve success.
In addition to the above, the Director will be responsible for analyzing a variety of marketing and communications opportunities and deciding which to develop, when to develop them, and how to produce them in service of multiple audiences and outcomes. This will require leading both direct reports and peer teams across the organization and managing processes accordingly to ensure cohesive execution of a unified vision. The ideal candidate will work to refine audience segmentation models, factoring in multiple data sources, optimize marketing and communications material, and advise contributors on the best ways to express messages for a range of audiences and environments. They will lead and develop a multichannel content calendar for all relevant activities and guide matrixed teams on a number of initiatives.
University Communications, part of the Office of External Relations, provides support and campus leadership in the planning, coordination and implementation of strategic communications programs that support Stanford University and its mission. University Communications is responsible for brand positioning and strategy; issues and reputation management; crisis communications; oversight of digital content and top-level web and social media platforms; media relations and news services; executive communications with all constituencies; major publications; and a campus video productions studio and video production group. University Communications coordinates with communications professionals across the university and advises on communications policy with senior executive staff.
The Director will be part of a Marketing and Digital Strategy team within University Communications and External Relations. They will report to the Senior Director for Channel Strategy and supervise three direct reports: an email marketing manager, a copy editor, and a web editor. This role is also responsible for effectively leading cross-functional teams, including peer elements without a direct reporting line, to drive successful communications and marketing outcomes both externally and internally.
In this role, you will:
- Define strategies and goals and lead execution across all owned digital and third-party digital channels, leveraging content planning, brand, and design and aligning with technological capabilities in a new marketing technology stack to drive outcomes.
- Establish content strategy, planning, and go-to-market timelines across relevant channels, including Stanford.edu, Stanford Report (web and email), affiliated University Communications websites, social media channels, contextual search, and similar.
- Lead the day-to-day execution of content strategy on Stanford’s owned institutional communication channels (Stanford.edu and Stanford Report web and email), with accountability for effective editorial processes and decision-making.
- Leverage the institutional narrative to drive target audience engagement.
- Direct research and analysis efforts, collaborating with adjacent teams. Guide organization to use the results in strategic marketing and communications.
- Build and manage a content calendar and content flow that encompasses written, video, social, visual, and other media types. This calendar should facilitate coordinated planning and execution across teams within University Communications and across campus.
- Leverage a variety of data to refine segmentation model, optimize content, and advise content creators on best ways to express messages for a range of audiences and outcomes.
- Partner with social media team to develop and execute social media strategies to increase engagement and awareness.
- Working with email marketing manager, create and manage email marketing automation programs leveraging content marketing strategies, brand, and institutional narratives.
- Write headlines, summaries, captions and other display copy for a variety of web and email channels.
- Participate in university-wide initiatives and cross-functional teams to establish the organization as a strategic partner and thought leader.
- Demonstrate a commitment to promoting and supporting an environment of diversity and inclusion.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
- Bachelor's degree and eight years of relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing and leveraging integrated marketing and communications strategies to achieve goals.
- Proven ability to achieve an organizational vision, amplify values, and support programs through communications and marketing initiatives.
- Ability to communicate vision, objectives and approach to a wide range of stakeholders and collaborators, ensuring buy-in and alignment.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to use data to drive decision-making.
- Strong familiarity with common marketing tools and approaches in fast-paced enterprise marketing and communications environments.
- High degree of organization and meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to jump easily from big-picture to focused tasks.
- Deep familiarity with content creation and production practices across formats, applications, and mediums (spanning many styles of copy: video, photo, graphics, marketing, and news/informational contexts).
- Demonstrated ability to manage marketing and communications project plans on schedule.
- Demonstrated experience presenting to senior managers.
- Proven people manager with the ability to motivate, grow, and train staff across functions.
Why Stanford is For You:
Stanford University is one of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, devoting tremendous intellectual and physical resources toward the betterment of humanity. As a major Bay Area employer, Stanford seeks people committed to excellence and to improving our world. In turn, the university is committed to supporting its employees as they develop their careers and enrich their lives. We believe Stanford’s future success will be shaped by the diverse perspectives, unique experiences, and inclusive culture of its community.
